Bravos Insight

After re-signing closer Raisel Iglesias to a one-year, $16M contract, Alex Anthopoulos went out and grabbed another solid late innings reliever by snatching Robert Suarez out of the grasp of the San Diego Padres during free agency. The former Padres closer signed a three-year, $45 million contract with the Atlanta Braves in mid-December to bolster the backend of a Braves bullpen that just became a legitimate force in the 8th and 9th innings this upcoming season. 

The Suarez signing may have shocked some fans, but the addition of the elite closer to work the 8th inning is another brilliant move by Anthopoulos. It not only sets up an insurance plan in case Iglesias struggles out of the gate in 2026, but it also establishes a clear vision to his plans for the 9th inning in 2027 and 2028. Remember, the Braves GM is playing chess, not checkers.  

Suarez showed his moxy last season when he led the NL with 40 saves. But his numbers weren’t just impressive with his saves numbers, as he also posted career highs WAR (2.3), innings (69 2/3), strikeouts (75), and WHIP (.904) en route to his second consecutive All-Star nod. 

Suarez didn’t find success in MLB at a young age. Coming out of Venezuela, Suarez, who turns 35 on March 1, was originally a product of the Mexican League, pitching for the Saraperos de Saltillo in 2015 after pitching in the Mexican semi-pro league. In late 2015, Suarez signed with Japan’s SoftBank Hawks, which was his first of five years in Asia. Finally, in 2022, the Padres saw enough from his performances with the Hanshin Tigers that they offered him a one-year, $6 million major league contract. After turning in a 2.27 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 45 appearances, the Padres offered him an extension through the 2025 season. Suarez declined the $8M option to enter free agency this offseason, which turned out to be a lucrative pay increase. 

Suarez’s grit and determination are the cornerstone intangibles that Anthopoulos loves to add to the Braves clubhouse. It’s also Suarez’s burning desire to play baseball that allows him to be so humble when asked to take a “secondary” role as the Braves setup man for closer Iglesias. In his press conference to announce his signing, Suarez said through an interpreter, “I’m willing to do whatever needs to be done”. “I just want to help the team win in any which way (I can). So I’m happy to do whatever the team needs.” 

The Braves now offer a bullpen consisting of Iglesias, Suarez, Dylan Lee, Aaron Bummer, and Joel Payamps. Ian Hamilton and Joe Jimenez (pending recovery) should handle two more spots, as well as whichever starter in Hurston Waldrep or Grant Holmes doesn’t make the rotation. Hayden Harris and Jhancarlos Lara will have every opportunity in Spring Training to compete against Hamilton and Jimenez for those spots.